I love your user name! Best wishes for your new pdoc appointment. Here are my experiences. YMMV.

1. I did get diagnosed my first time with the right pdoc.

2. Having your symptoms, family history and occurrences can be very helpful.

3. Bring your wife if her input and observations would be helpful.

4. A mood jornal for only a couple of days may not be helpful unless you are rapid cycling.

5. Treatment usually begins with bipolar meds older or newer generation. You won’t have to go IP or IOP unless you are a danger to yourself or others.

6. You should be diagnosed within the first few visits in my experience.

7. On the first visit the pdoc will spend longer with you to make an accurate assessment.

Good luck!!!